Foot Care for Runners

April is National Foot Health Month!

Although it's still pretty chilly, serious runners are already out in force, and they need to be especially careful about foot care to enhance performance, prevent injury and protect their feet both while they run and afterward.

Amongst runners, there's a lot of discussion about calluses, preventing blisters and moisturizing. Calluses are a natural way for your feet to protect themselves against rubbing that's not serious enough to cause a blister. So in a way, they're good, but allowed to grow too large, they can alter the way your foot fits in a shoe, and you can still get a blister there.

The key seems to be finding a balance, and the Foot Scrubber is excellent because unlike a razor or a grater style callus remover that can cut off too much, you only remove a little each time.

Another issue is the problem with feet getting hot and sweaty during a run, which can exacerbate blisters. We have heard of people using petroleum jelly to coat their feet, but really prefer 95% Shea Butter Balm, as it seems to provide a better barrier to moisture.

It's also important to keep your feet well moisturized - and Gilden Tree Nourishing Foot Cream is excellent. The main ingredient is Certified Organic Aloe Vera, which helps reduce swelling and inflammation, and can help soothe burning.

One of our favorite bloggers on running is Jon Vonhof of fixingyourfeet.com. He's written an excellent book, "Fixing Your Feet", now in its fifth edition. Jon has a common sense approach to taking care of your feet and is easy to read and follow.

Whether you're a serious runner or a casual jogger, don't forget to start taking care of your feet now!